Use, not abuse, PPOs

There is a legal tool available which can - sometimes - safeguard someone who is fearful of another.

But like any tool, if abused, it can become as good as useless.

We're talking about personal protection orders, known as PPOs, as we learned more about from a recent in-depth look presented by News-Review staff writer Steve Zucker.

Critical as these orders are to the safety and well-being of (most often) women who are victims of domestic violence, some women are guilty of dulling these tools' edges and damaging their effectiveness for others.

Since the early 1990s victims of domestic abuse have been able to ask the courts for an order intended to help protect them from their attackers. PPOs essentially require one person to keep his or her distance from another.

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When used properly these tools are often a victim's first, important step out of an abusive relationship.

The courts offer two types of personal protection order. The first, which accounts for about two-thirds of all PPO filings, is for people in a "domestic" relationship. These apply to spouses, people who are or were in a dating relationship and those who share a child in common. The second type, known as "non-domestic" or a "stalking" PPO is for people who are strangers or who have none of the above relationships.

People in these situations find themselves feeling powerless. But a PPO puts some power, some control, back into their hands.

But far too often we hear of PPOs filed when couples are simply arguing or tired of dealing with each other. They may be spouses, or ex-spouses, couples or ex-couples, who have not separated themselves fully from each other's lives.

We hear of women who invite the man against whom they've claimed fear of violence back into their homes or back into their lives while the PPO remains in effect. Then they get mad at him again and call the cops.

Shame on them. These orders are sometimes the only protection a victim has from an enraged "ex" or random stalker. So it makes us frustrated when disgruntled women and men seek PPOs vindictively and allow violations so casually.

We'd find it hard to believe that law enforcement officials aren't frustrated as well. How many calls must a police officer respond to from the same couple wielding mutual PPOs before authorities throw up their hands and just stop taking it seriously?

By their actions, people who invite or fail to report violations of PPOs only dilute a system which may be the only pre-emptive protection available to those who really need it.

We implore those considering the PPO to think carefully about whether it is absolutely needed and, if one is necessary, to do nothing to violate your responsibility under that PPO. Report any violations by the subject of the order and if you won't do that, then ask the order be lifted.

Domestic violence issues are too important to be trifled with. These court orders may very well be the difference between life or death for future victims. Don't make a mockery of them.